Cover for vent-pipes or the like.



H. H. DAUPHINEE.

COVER FOR VENT PIPES OR THE LIKE,

APPLICATION} FILED OCT. 22. 1915.

' 1.191.497 PatentedJu1y18,l916

INVENTOR @jww xmu W RN? HEimY H. na'ossmnn, onenovinnncn, nnonn ISLAND.

COVER- FOR VENT-PEPES OR THE LIKE.

To all whom it may concern 'Be it known that 1, Hana)! H. Danrnmnn, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Providence, in the county of Providence, State of Rhode Island,,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coversfor Vent-Pipes or the like, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to caps or covers for vent-pipes, manholes or the like and consists particularly of improvements in the means for securing the cover in place to prevent its accidental or unwarranted removal.

The object of my improvement is to provide a simple, ellicient and easily operated fasteningdevice for holding the cover in place in the pipe to prevent'it from being tampered with by unauthorized persons or by those mischievously inclined.

A further object of my improvement is to provide a lockingor securing-means selfcontained in the cover itself so that the lat-- ter may be used on the ordinary straight ipe without requiring special attachments or fittings therefor.

The preferred manner and means for carrying out my improvement are fully described in the following specification, illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate like parts. I

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a vertical, sectional "view of a vent-pipe shown as set upright in the ground and illustrating my improved cap or cover applied thereto; and Fig. is an underneath view of the cover, looking upwardly from the bottom oi the pipe, showing the method of operation of the lockingmeans.

Referring lirst to Fig. l, l designates a usual vcrtically-arrrmged vent-pipe which extends down through the ground (l and connects with the seweror soil-pipe to ventilate the latter. To prevent the vent-pipe from becoming choked "with dirt, stones or other matter a cap is usually employed to cover its exposed end and generally this is merely arranged to set into the pipe with its flange overhanging the top to hold it in place. Often these covers are removed by mischievously-inelined boys or persons of evil intent and stones and other refuse are thrown into the pipe. This frequently causes the seweror drain'pipe to become clogged or completely stopped up and. quires digging it up for cleaning. It is Specification etLette'rs Patent.

Patented July 18, 1916.

Application filed Qctober 22, 1915. Serial No. 57,251.

often a very expensive ope 'ation to take up the pipe to clean it and then relay it'again, and my improvement is designed to obviate the cause for such a contingency.

As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, I propose to construct my improved cap or cover C of the same form as those generally used for the purpose described, but in addition pro vide as a self-contained partof the cover a friction-lock or holding-device for securing it in the pipe-opening as next explained. Usually the cover C is of circular form, but it might be made of square, polygonal or any other shape in accm'dance with the character ol the pipe with which it is to he used. As here illustrated the cover (I is of circular shape having a relatively deep flange 7 adapted to fit within the opening of the pipe P with a. slight clearance, and formed with an overhanging rim 7 arranged lo overhang and rest upon the upper end of the pipe. Usually the top of the cap or cover 0 is perforated with a number of rl atively small holes or air-openings it which provide a vent through the'pipe Without allowing the ingress thereto of stones, sticks. leaves or other foreign matter. If desired the top of the cover might be made in the form of a lattice or grating as sometimes provided.

In applying my improvement to the type of cover above described 1 form the latter with an inclined web or partition I) extending downwardly from its top adjacent the inside of the flange Preferably the web 1) forms the inner wall of a pocket 1) which.

opens out along the side of the flange as shown most clearly in Fig. '3. That is to say, the circular flange 7' is cut away along ils side from the rim r clear to the bottom of the cover and the channel or opening so formed is inclosed by side walls 11;, w and backed by the inner, inclined wall or web I). in this waya rectangular passage or channel is provided on the sideol' the cover adapted to receive a srulare'. nut N arranged to slide therein. Extending down through the top of the cover 0 is a cap-screw or bolt B having its tapered head 5 seated in a countersunk hole c and arranged with its threads engaging the threaded hole of the cover C with a free lit and its head is countersunk somewhat below the surface to provide for a slight rocking motion" without exposing its edge above the cover. The nut N is of a size to adapt it to fit the bottom of the pocket 70 with a slight clearance on the,

maybe slotted as shown in Fig. l to receive a screwdriver, or if desired it might be formed with openings to receive the prongs of a wrench as sometimes provided.

' The method of operation of the complete device is as follows: Before setting the cover in place the screw B is turned to the left to force the nut N down toward the bottom of the channel 79 the sides w, w of the latter holding the nut from turning during this operation. With the nut N in position adjacent the bottom of the flange f the latter may be entered freely into the opening of the pipe P and will drop down into place with the rim r resting on the end of the pipe as shown in Fig. 1. After the cover 0 has been set in place as above described the screw B is turned to the right and this draws the nut N upwardly in the channel 77 with its inner side sliding along the face'ot' the web D. As the web or wall D is inclined outwardly toward the side of the cover in the direction approaching its upper end it will have a tendency to force the nut- N laterally against the inside of the pipe P. That is to say, as the nut N slides upwardly along the web D it will be wedged against the inside of the pipe P and will therefore force the cover C tightly against the opposite wall of the pipe to bind it firmly in place. In other words, the nut N and web I) have a wedging action which serves to impinge the cover against the inside of the pipe P to prevent its removal until the nut is released. In this manner the cover isheld securely in position without danger of its being removed with mischievous intent.

It will be seen that my invention provides an extremely simple and ei'licient means for holding a cap or cover in place and one which is self-contained in the cover and requires no fittings or attachments, to be applied to the pipe itself. It is also most convenient and easy to operate and is practically roof against derangement or getting out o order.

My improved cover can be manufactured at very slight cost, being practically all in one piece with only two added parts, the screw and not, which are of standard size,

and hence may be procured at small. 8X-

pense. Besides being adapted for use with vent-pipes for sewers or drains my improved flange fitted to the interior of the pipe and formed with an inclined web extending downwardly from the top of the cover, of a boltrotatable in a bearing adjacent said web, and means on. said bolt adapted to be slid along the web to cause it to wedge against the interior of the pipe within which the cover. sets.

2. In an improved closure for pipes or manholes, the combination with a cover formed with a fiangefitted to the interior of the pipe or other opening and having a web inclined to the side oi the flange, oi? a nut adapted to slide along said web, and av screw for sliding the nut to cause it to be wedged against the inside of the pipe or hther opening to bind the cover thereagainst.

3. In combination, a cover for pipes or manholes formed with a flange fitted to the inside of the pipe and having an inclined pocket or channel extending longitudinally of its side, of a nut adapted to slide in the channel without turning therein, and a screw reaching down through. the top of the cover and engaging the nut to draw the latter along the channel and wedge it against the inside of the pipe.

' In testimony whereof I aliix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY H. DAUPl-IINEE. Witnesses:

HERBERT Ki Amman, Geo. A. WHITE, Jr. 

